Racing: Molloy not too keen on Derby campaign

Chad Ormsby awards himself a perfect 10. Photo / Supplied

A three-year-old who has won two middle distance features before Christmas would seem the ideal type for the Telecom New Zealand Derby come March.

Unless his trainer is Leo Molloy.

Molloy trains Duckworth Lewis, who justified warm favouritism in the $45,000 Mad Butcher Championship Prelude over 2100m at Ellerslie yesterday, thanks in no small way to a beautiful ride from Chad Ormsby.

Ormsby controlled the race from in front and the muddling pace left Duckworth Lewis with enough energy to hold out flying filly Zonza by a short head, courtesy of a final 600m in just a tick over 34 seconds.

The win came just two starts after Duckworth Lewis downed subsequent Counties and Waikato Cup winners Postmans Daughter and Dawn Ghost in the weight-for-age Te Hana Stakes at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day.

That level of form is a rarity for a pre-Christmas three-year-old and would suggest Duckworth Lewis will easily stretch the extra 300 to the Derby distance in March but Molloy isn't a believer.

"Personally I don't think that will be his ideal distance," said the South Auckland trainer.

"A lot can happen between now and then and if he is healthy and racing well by Derby time we might have a crack, providing that is what the owners want.

"But really, I don't think it is his go."

Molloy's post-race comments were obviously heeded by TAB bookmakers, who still have Duckworth Lewis a $21 chance for the Derby.

Always one to think outside the square, Molloy is not even sure he will aim Duckworth Lewis at the Mad Butcher Championship on New Year's Day.

"I might go for the low-hanging fruit, which in my opinion is taking on the older horses," he told the Herald.

"I don't think the older weight-for-age horses are much chop. We have already beaten them once so we might aim for that again."

That would make the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day the next aim for Duckworth Lewis, with Molloy happy to avoid the 3-year-olds.

"I think they are a good bunch so it makes sense to race for $200,000 against the older horses."

Yesterday's win took Duckworth Lewis past $100,000 in stakes from just 14 starts but as proud as Molloy is of the job he is doing, he was quick to praise Ormsby just as ebulliently.

Occasional weight issues are all that are stopping Ormsby from being much higher up the jockey's premiership than in the 21st spot he finds himself after 20 wins so far this season.

"Chad is a good rider, with great balance and he rides with a long rein, which I like," said Molloy.

"We could have any of the top guys on this horse but Chad is as good as any of them."

Duckworth Lewis has not been an easy horse to train, having thin soles which have to be managed correctly but Molloy has a new weapon in that battle, opening a 50m long equine swimming pool at his training complex today.

With six horses to come back into work he will have 16 horses in training, just one short of his stable's capacity.

"I am thrilled with how things are going but the bottom line is I am not in the training for the money.

"I train because I love racing. And to be honest it also makes me easier to live with.

It is such a steep learning curve I come home exhausted every night."

While Duckworth Lewis may not end up a Derby horse, runner-up Zonza had Oaks and even Derby written all over her when flashing home for second yesterday.

She holds a nomination for both those 2400m events and being by Zabeel and trained by Roger James she ticks a lot of the boxes needed to win a classic.

Earlier on the day, Dreamcoat looked every inch a genuine Karaka Million contender when he led throughout to win the juvenile scamper.

The flashy son of Coats Choice, trained by Stephen McKee, cruised straight to the lead and held out the beautifully-bred La Vitesse, who also looks one to follow over the summer.